FAR EAST WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1942, Page 6

FAR EAST WAR

MORE CHINESE SUCCESSES (Recd. 1.30 p.m) CHUNGKING, July 20. The High Command stated that the Chinese had regained 15 miles of the Chekiang-Kiangsi railway. Remnants of the Japanese around Hemgfeng and lyang are being mopped up. Fighting continues around Siyang, in Souinern Honan.

The “Central News” says the majority of Japanese trooos in Southeastern China are being moved northward, leaving the key cities manned by puppet troops. Before their departure, the Japanese looted every village, taking livestock, scrap metal, and grain and commandeering inousands of labourers. U.S.A. PLANES BOMB CANTON RUGBY, July 20.. American attacks on Japanese in China are reported in an Agency message from Chungking, which gives General Stilwell’s headquarters communique announcing that American planes bombed Canton on Saturday, while Linghwan was heavily bombed on Sunday. . There were no American casualties in these raids. BURMA FRONTIER. LONDON, July 20. The “Daily Express” correspondent at General Waveil’s headquarters 'says: “A strange hide-and-seek war has been going on on the Burma frontier all through the monsoon lull. It was the sort of war that is not read about in communiques, but it will vitally affect operations when the Autumn comes. Like boxers sparring, British forces in Assam and Japanese forces in Burma have been weighing each other up. They have been concentrating on three kinds of activity. The first is the sending out of patrols through rain-lashed jungles to locdte enemy positions. Secondly, there is the finding out by air and otherwise of enemy strength, and judging his plans. Thirdly, there is the consolidating of communications. Fresh British Imperial troops are having a tough time. Monsoon rains pour down for days. Our patrols put up with such weather in flimsy bamboo huts. Troops often wade waist-high through swamps, dragging pack mules, and keeping rilles and ammunition dry. Snakes, mosquitoes and leeches are frequently encountered in the jungle. The leeches suck a marching man’s blood, even througn woollen socks.”

AERIAL ATTACKS

RUGBY, July 20.

A communique issued to-day m New Delhi states: On July 18, R.A.F. bombers attacked enemy targets in the Kalamyo area, Burma. Two towns were bombed, buildings were damaged, and fires started. A low level attack was also carried out at Akyab. River steamers were bombed, bombs were dropped in the target area in Kalewa, and fires strated. No aircraft is missing.

“FLYING FORTRESS” SUCCESS.

RUGBY, July 20

The defensive power of the American Flying Fortress bombers .was shown in' an engagement described by the United States War Department. A Flying Fortress shot down four of 23 Japanese fighters, which engaged it in a two hours’ battle over Rangoon recently. One gunner was killed, and four of the crew including the pilot and co-pilot were wounded, and the plane’s rudder and controls were shot away, and two engines were put out of commission, but the pilot finally landed the plane, after six of the crew left by parachute. U.S.A. AIRMEN IN FAR EAST ~RUGBY, July 20. It is announced in Washington that the R.A.F. provided the United States army and air force in the Far East with cantonments, aerodrome facilities and personnel accommodation. It is stated that R.A.F. buildings aerodromes and accommodation at the bases were chosen by United States officials, and that the labour was furnished by the British. i EXCHANGE OF NATIONALS. LONDON, July 19. Arrangements have been completed for the exchange of 1800 nationals between the United Kingdom and Japan. The exchange will be made at Lorenco Marquez (Portuguese East Africa) in about a month. The British Red Cross learns that the conditions are excellent at the civilian internment camps at Shiroya, Managaaski, Miyoshi, and Hiroshima, in Japan. The food is good and varied. The hygiene is satisfactory. The facilities for sport and exercise are adequate.

RUGBY. July 19

Japanese diplomats and businessmen and their wives, who are being exchanged embarked at a northern British port during the week-end. The ship, which is conspicuously marked, will be floodlit on the journey.